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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #349248
Research Project: Identification of Novel Management Strategies for Key Pests and Pathogens of Grapevine with Emphasis on the Xylella Fastidiosa Pathosystem

Location: Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research

Title: Vibrational mating disruption of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis, vector of Xylella fastidiosa in California

Author
item MAZZONI, VALERIO - Fondazione Edmund Mach
item NIERI, RACHELE - Fondazione Edmund Mach
item Gordon, Shira
item Krugner, Rodrigo

Submitted to: IOBC/WPRS Bulletin (Abstract for Conference Proceedings)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/24/2018
Publication Date: 12/4/2018
Citation: Mazzoni, V., Nieri, R., Gordon, S.D., Krugner, R. 2018. Vibrational mating disruption of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis, vector of Xylella fastidiosa in California. IOBC/WPRS Bulletin (Abstract for Conference Proceedings). 139:28-30.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This contribution is a summary of research activities conducted between 2014 and 2017 on the mating behavior of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis, with emphasis on the assessment of whether vibrational mating interference approaches can be used as a novel control method. GWSS mating behavior is characterized by the emission of substrate-borne vibrational signals by both sexes. Males and females use vibrational signals through which they establish a vibrational duet that allows reciprocal identification, partner location (males search for stationary females), and eventual mating. Tests of behavioral manipulation with playbacks were performed to ascertain that vibrational signals could compromise mating. Playback of female signals to male-female pairs significantly reduced mating activity in both laboratory and field conditions. In addition, three specifically designed synthetic signals were tested in the laboratory to disrupt male signaling behaviors. Two signals containing a pure 80 Hz tone resulted in the total suppression of male signaling activity, which supports future field testing of the signal as a novel disruptive factor in GWSS communication. To date, experimental data support application of vibrational interference as a method to disrupt mating behavior of GWSS.